36 BULLETIN 743, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
cially in the latter State, where it is particularly injurious to the 
mango. The two other species are Diplodia persecma and an unde- 
termined species of Fusarium. 
THE WEST INDIAN RACE OF AVOCADOS IN GUATEMALA. 
It is safe to state that 95 per cent of all the avocados in Guate- 
mala belong to the Guatemalan race. From this it will readily be 
seen that the West Indian race is of little importance there. Its 
cultivation is limited to the lowlands, the highest point at which trees 
were seen being near Sanarate, Department of Guatemala, at an 
elevation of about 2,500 feet. On the Pacific slope, a few trees were 
seen at Mazatenango, Coatepeque, and Ayutla. Doubtless they are 
to be found scattered here and there all along the coastal plain which 
stretches from Mexico to Salvador. On the Atlantic slope, occasional 
trees were seen in the Motagua Valley from El Rancho down to the 
sea ; in the Polochic Valley they were seen at Panzos. The best varie- 
ties encountered were at Chiquimula; while of good quality, they 
were not equal to those grown in Florida and Cuba. Guatemala 
does not appear to possess any varieties of this race worthy of intro- 
duction into other countries. 
In the Motagua Valley, trees of this race flower in February and 
mature their fruits from the latter part of June until the end of 
August. Both the flowering and the fruiting seasons correspond very 
closely, therefore, to those of the West Indian race in Florida. 
The quantity of fruit produced is by no means sufficient to supply 
the markets of lowland towns; hence, fruits of the Guatemalan race, 
brought from the highlands, are frequently seen in these towns. It 
is noteworthy, however, that the avocado is not consumed so exten- 
sively in the lowlands as it is in the highlands ; as previously stated, 
it is a staple article of diet in the latter regions, while in the low- 
lands its consumption is limited. 
It is strange that the West Indian race is never seen in such towns 
as Amatitlan and Antigua. Experience in Florida indicates that 
the trees will withstand more cold than is experienced in either of 
these regions, and both of them are only a few miles from the 
tierra caliente where the West Indian race is grown. It must be 
assumed that during the long period in which both races have been 
grown in Guatemala each has become restricted to the zone in 
which it is most successful. The West Indian race might succeed 
in Antigua, but by nature it is much better adapted to the lowlands. 
The Guatemalan race, as has been noted, is occasionally seen at low 
elevations, and in some instances may be reasonably successful there ; 
but only in the cooler climate of the highlands does it appear to be 
really at home. 
